KINGSTON, Jamaica — Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji stamped her authority on the Grand Slam Track Meet this weekend, clinching the Women’s Short Distance title and a hefty payday.
Welteji, who showed remarkable consistency across both days, capped her campaign with a commanding victory in the 1500m final on Saturday. She clocked 4:04.51 to secure the win and pushed her points total to 20, enough to secure the overall crown and a US$100,000 prize.
American middle-distance standout Nikki Hiltz finished third in the 1500m (4:05.39) but her cumulative performance was strong enough to land second place overall with 18 points, earning US$50,000. Kenya’s Susan Ejore crossed the line second on Saturday (4:05.10) and secured third place in the standings with 12 points, taking home US$30,000.
Jamaica’s own Natoya Goule-Toppin faced a tough outing, visibly struggling through the final stretch of the 1500m. Despite her determined finish, aided by an encouraging home crowd, she placed seventh with a time of 4:20.73. Goule-Toppin wrapped up her Grand Slam campaign with five points overall, resulting in a payout of US$12,500 (approximately J$1.9 million) for her two-day effort.
The Grand Slam Track Meet proved to be a thrilling showcase of resilience, speed, and heart — with Welteji standing tallest among a competitive field.
